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Vol. CXLIII No. 9
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Onstage and behind the scenes of the ordinary life of The Living Tombstone

RILEY SOBEL·14 DAYS AGO

UPAC Concerts brought out the "Five Nights at Freddy’s band” this April.

Anthony Santiago/The Polytechnic

Letter to the Editor

Orion and Dr. Bae’s litigation continues as RPI’s own discovery documents refute it’s “good faith” defense

CHULSUNG BAE

Dr. Bae addresses his ongoing litigation against RPI, citing specific discovery documents and calling for transparency from the university's leadership, in this letter to the editor.

President Schmidt discussing the RPI Forward financial model. Anthony Santiago/The Polytechnic

Interview

Transcript: President Schmidt Spring 2026 interview

MEHER RANDERIA & MATTHEW TREANOR & RONAN HEVENOR

The Poly recently sat down with President Schmidt to follow up on the progress of the RPI Forward plan, specifically discussing how the university can leverage data analytics to stabilize enrollment, diversifying revenue through expanded research and philanthropy, and pioneering the integration of AI and quantum computing as interdisciplinary tools for experiential learning and future scholarship.

The Engineers celebrate after a Callista Adorno homer.
The Engineers celebrate after a Callista Adorno homer. Moiz Steenhuis/The Polytechnic

Women's Softball

Tigers thrashed twice at Troy

MOIZ STEENHUIS

A Callista Adorno home run and scoreless outings by Engineer pitchers sees Rensselaer rout RIT with 15-1 and 7-5 victories Friday afternoon.

Student Senate

Senate endorses STAR and RPA petition, multiple committee appointments

ELENI DOUGHNEY

Senate endorsed the Student Transgender Association RPI and Rensselaer Pride Alliance petition surrounding the school's process for changing sex classifications. Griffin Oliver '27 was appointed VGMIA, Ryan Kilgore '27 was appointed VGMEA, Zach Nobles '27 was appointed AAC Chairperson, and Charlie Fowle '29 was appointed FSC Chairperson.

Staff Editorial

What is The Poly watching?

THE POLYTECHNIC STAFF

Not sure what to watch next? The Polytechnic staff shares their favorite shows worth streaming.

Editorial Notebook

Project Hail Mary is the friends we made along the way

AUDREY JOHNSON

Contributing Editor Audrey Johnson ’29 gives her review of Project Hail Mary, a movie adaptation of Andy Weir’s book of the same name. It’s a science fiction movie about friendship that will make you want to discover more.

Public-use chalk art on the patio of the Union at the festival. Riley Sobel/The Polytechnic

Photo Short Story

Touch Grass Music Festival continues performance season at RPI

RILEY SOBEL

In the one-weekend gap between the RPI Players’ last performance of Something Rotten! and The Living Tombstone coming to campus, appreciators of the arts got something new.

Previous Grand Marshal Tiburon Benavides '28G and President of the Union Isabele Lieber '25 '26G stand with elected Jordan Krishnayah '28 and Kate Goldstein '26 '27G. Anna Zuniga/The Polytechnic

GM Week 2026

Krishnayah elected GM, Goldstein elected PU

MEHER RANDERIA

Grace Meehan ’28 was reelected as Undergraduate President and Melissa Flores ’28G was elected Graduate President.

Student Senate

Senate splits the role of Vice Grand Marshal, establishes Rules and Administration Committee

ELENI DOUGHNEY

Senate passed an amendment to split Vice Grand Marshal into external and internal roles, created the Rules and Administration Committee, and confirmed multiple committee chairperson appointments.

Press Release

Where did the money go?

ISABELE LIEBER

136th President of the Union Isabele Lieber shares her insights about the FY27 Union Annual Report.

GM Week 2026

Tracking GM Week 2026 endorsements

MEHER RANDERIA

An endorsement tracker for all candidates running for Grand Marshal and President of the Union from other student organizations in GM Week 2026.

Executive Board

E-Board reallocates Union rooms, leaves Photo Club in jeopardy

KYLE PAN

E-Board passes a motion that leaves Photo Club and the Student Veteran's Association without a room, among other reallocations. Dance Club and ShowTechs received additional subsidies, RMA special McNeil Room request approved, Sew for Hope gets starter budget.

Candidate Profile

UP Candidate Profile: Grace Meehan

GRACE MEEHAN

Editor's Note: The Poly sent a questionnaire to every candidate that had filed to run for GM, PU, and UP prior to Spring break.

Candidate Profile

PU Candidate Profile: Kate Goldstein

KATE GOLDSTEIN

Editor's Note: The Poly sent a questionnaire to every candidate that had filed to run for GM, PU, and UP prior to Spring break.

Candidate Profile

GM Candidate Profile: Jordan Krishnayah

JORDAN KRISHNAYAH

Editor's Note: The Poly sent a questionnaire to every candidate that had filed to run for GM, PU, and UP prior to Spring break.

Candidate Profile

GM Candidate Profile: Zach Nobles

ZACH NOBLES

Editor's Note: The Poly sent a questionnaire to every candidate that had filed to run for GM, PU, and UP prior to Spring break.

Mayhem at the Provost Picnic, a challenge to stay in the game. Anthony Santiago/The Polytechnic

GM Week 2026

Uncovering the mysteries of GM Week: 2026

ELENI DOUGHNEY

A week full of mystery-themed events to celebrate Grand Marshal Week 2026, including a casino night, a scavenger hunt, and the annual Provost Picnic.

On-Campus Event

Rensselaer Games Showcase changes the game

ELENI DOUGHNEY

RPI’s Game Development Club hosts their 2025 Games Showcase, highlighting the achievements of student game developers.

On-Campus Event

UPAC Cinema hosts its fourth annual student film festival

ANISHA BISWAS

UPAC Cinema hosted the fourth annual film festival on March 28, displaying the skills of many young filmmakers at RPI.

Features

Rock, blues and games

ANISHA BISWAS

6 pm on March 28 was a popular time slot for many student events across campus. A rock and blues concert took place in the McNeil room while a retro game showcase took place in Sage Laboratory.

An amusing take on the 1950s musical Something Rotten! Anthony Santiago/The Polytechnic

Photo Short Story

RPI players welcome the audience to the Renaissance in Something Rotten!

SOPHIA MENESES

The RPI Players brought Renaissance London to life with their dynamic performance of Something Rotten!, showcasing a blend of comedic timing, seamless technical execution, and an outstanding cast.

Puckman cheering on the runners at the finish line, while it hailed.

On-Campus Event

Pi-K for (R)PI day

MEHER RANDERIA

All geared up for a five kilometer run in the cold and hail, students, alumni, staff, and all gathered this past Pi Day, Saturday March 14, to commemorate R-PI Giving Day for the second year in a row.

Rensselaer Motorsports teaches kids how to build LEGO race cars.

Campus Event

RPI SWE hosts Exploring Engineering Day, teaching kids about engineering

AUDREY JOHNSON

RPI SWE, along with a host of other RPI student organizations, put on Exploring Engineering Day, where kids did fun activities to learn about engineering.

Sam Javanrouh/The Polytechnic

Opinion

On the precipice: six national teams that lie on the World Cup’s doorstep

MOIZ STEENHUIS

Six stories picked from the twenty-two teams that remain in the running for spots in this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Top Hat

Beware the Fratification of Student Government

TIBURON BENAVIDES

Grand Marshal Tiburon "T" Leon Benavides '21, '27G looks to future RPI student leaders to advocate for both Greek and graduate students as RPI navigates a long-term demographic shift away from Greek Life and toward a larger graduate population in this Top Hat.

Top Hat

Tradition!

TIBURON BENAVIDES

Grand Marshal Tiburon "T" Leon Benavides makes his case for why student representation and government is important, especially at RPI. He urges students to vote and run for elected office during the upcoming GM Week in this Top Hat.

Alumni Interview

Transcript: Priti Langer alumni interview

AUDREY JOHNSON

The Poly sat down with Priti Langer to discuss her heart attack at 46 that led to her becoming a Go Red For Women Ambassador, and how RPI helped influence her ability to advocate for herself.

Alumni Interview

Transcript: Dr. Jennifer Freedberg alumni interview

MEHER RANDERIA

The Poly sat down with Dr. Jennifer Freedberg ’18 before the winter break to discuss her journey in physics from RPI undergraduate to a condensed matter post-doc at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and how a collaborative scientific community is essential in shaping a career in academia.

Editorial Notebook

Water Thievery

KYLE PAN

Associate News Editor Kyle Pan ’29 recounts his experience with caffeine

Editorial Notebook

Arch isn’t that bad

ANNA ZUNIGA

Photography Editor Anna Zuniga ’26 shares her opinion on the arch away semester.

Opinion

Touching grass is unfortunately good advice

ANISHA BISWAS

Senior Managing Editor Anisha Biswas ’27 discusses the benefits of going outside as an overworked and overly stressed RPI student.

Opinion

Playing Devil’s Advocate for AI Art

ALEXA SCHUSTER

Alexa Schuster ‘27 believes AI art will bring potential benefits for artists and that it can be utilized to encourage creativity in art communities.

Cedrone on the field. Anthony Santiago/The Polytechnic

Women's Lacrosse Interview

Balancing lax with the facts: how Cedrone and Pritts handle the everyday grind

MOIZ STEENHUIS

Lacrosse takes up to four hours a day for Sofia Cedrone and Kacey Pritts, which adds to their productivity academically and professionally.

Sports

Weekend Sports Roundup 10/31 - 11/1

MOIZ STEENHUIS

Football continues their strong season.

Sports

Weekend Sports Roundup 10/23 - 10/25

MOIZ STEENHUIS

Accolades for football and field hockey, soccer, and ice hockey continue season.

Men'S Hockey

Rensselaer clawed by RedHawks in opening series sweep

MOIZ STEENHUIS

A collapse and a shutout to the Miami RedHawks spoil Eric Lang’s debut.

A face-off during the game. Riley Sobel/The Polytechnic

Men's Lacrosse

Rensselaer Bested by Union

MOIZ STEENHUIS

A third quarter collapse sees Rensselaer fall to rivals Union College Garnet Chargers.

Rensselaer fans celebrate the Engineer empty net goal.

Men'S Hockey

Third period frenzy: Rensselaer surges past Harvard in Big Red Freakout

MOIZ STEENHUIS

A three-goal third period rally sees the Engineers defeat Harvard on the 48th annual Big Red Freakout.

Men's Football

Engineers skin Bengals for victory

RILEY SOBEL

Rensselaer steamrolled Buffalo State for a 57-13 victory this Saturday. Both teams together scored a combined 53 points before the end of the first half.

Sports

Weekend Sports Roundup, Oct 3 - 5, 2025

MOIZ STEENHUIS

Sports

Weekend Sports Roundup, Sept 26 - 28, 2025

MOIZ STEENHUIS

Women’s tennis triumphant, field hockey continues to surge as soccer, and hockey compete over the weekend.